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Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert sings Keeper of the Flame as she rehearses for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Saturday April 14, 2018, in Las Vegas, NV
Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com

Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town are two of contemporary country music’s most successful and critically acclaimed artists. They have 36 Academy of Country Music awards and 21 Country Music Association awards between them.

They’ve also been friends for years.

However, after embarking on their 17-city co-headlining "The Bandwagon" tour, the singers found out there was much to learn from each other. Their reciprocal admiration blossomed with each tour stop.

For example, Lambert reveled in the joy that emanates from Little Big Town. And consummate fashionistas Little Big Town learned that sometimes a Dollar General backpack could make a Louis Vuitton-sized statement.

“It’s been one of the most fun tours I’ve ever done in my whole 13 years of touring,” Lambert said. “There’s just joy that I can’t explain. It’s friends doing what they love together. It’s been something I’ve never experienced, to be on stage with one of my favorite bands, doing each other’s songs. I’m sad it’s over.”

“I’m not sure the joy is not just coming from her and leaking onto all of us, which we hope,” Lambert said with a laugh. “It’s just so fun. One of my family members that came to Dallas said, ‘Y’all can’t call that work. You’re having way too much fun.’ ”

Lambert also marveled at the way the members in Little Big Town — Schlapman, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet — were able to seamlessly blend their families, work together on the road and still enjoy each other’s company.

“They are so functional and they’re so close,” she said. “You hear stories about all these amazing rock 'n' roll bands that have had all these blow-ups and they don’t want to be around each other, but you can barely catch Little Big Town not together even when we’re not on stage. They are just great people, and they really love each other, and their love for each other spreads across the whole tour.”

Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Philip Sweet of Little Big Town give an interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on June 26, 2018, in Nashville.(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Lambert also was inspired by their continued dedication to their craft. Because, she admitted, sometimes she gets tired.

“They’re always looking for something new and creative, a new cover to do or some new vocal things they could do,” she said. “It’s just really inspiring to see someone love music that much after doing it for 20 years.”

Schlapman said that Little Big Town, which has had hits including “Better Man” and “Girl Crush,” was moved by Lambert’s collaborative attitude with her band and dedication to her crew. Schlapman said Lambert always asked what her band and crew thought and respected their opinions. When one of Lambert’s crew members lost his teenage son, Schlapman said the singer couldn’t stop thinking about the father’s loss.

“She kept talking about how broken she was for him,” Schlapman said. “It just showed her humanity by how sad she was. She treats people well and fair, just like she’s everybody else.”

Miranda Lambert sings "Keeper of the Flame" as she rehearses for the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 14, 2018.(Photo: Larry McCormack / Tennessean.com)

Schlapman said Lambert also knows how to shop and that her choices are unexpected and endearing. When Schlapman was growing up in Georgia, her father used to tell her to not forget where she came from. She watched Lambert live that life lesson every day — and she loved it.

Schlapman remembers walking onto Lambert’s tour bus with Fairchild. The women spotted a sequined backpack and commented about how much they liked it. Expecting to hear it was from a high-end designer, they were surprised to learn Lambert had bought it at a discount store.

“She was like, ‘Oh, I picked that up at the Dollar General. It was $12,’ ” Schlapman said. “I just thought, ‘You are who everyone believes you to be. You are that girl.’ And I love that. She doesn’t try to hide it. She just is who she is.”

Keith Urban, left, joins Little Big Town as they view their star during an induction ceremony at Music City Walk of Fame Park in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

Keith Urban, left, joins Little Big Town as they view their star during an induction ceremony at Music City Walk of Fame Park in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

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While Lambert and the members of Little Big Town are all songwriters, Lambert said they were having too much fun relaxing to write songs on the road. Lambert and Fairchild did come up with several song titles, though, that Lambert hopes they co-write together. Both acts agree the touring experience was incredible. Little Big Town performed a set of their songs. Lambert played her show. And then they joined each other for about an hour each night and sang each other’s hits. When they played the tour’s last show on Saturday, everyone was sad to see their joint excursion end.

“Every night we were so excited and pumped and couldn’t wait to get on that stage,” Schlapman said. “I really want to do it again.”